578-Personal Safety / 748
P
ersonal Safet
y
BOS-PRD-03.900906
being achieved are the size of the load, obstacles on the deck, lifting from within deep bins or poor stance.
Elimination of these problems will allow the task to be carried out more easily.
Team lifting may be necessary to place heavier items into their storage location if they have to be lifted from
the deck.
4
.1.1
0 L
on
g
c
arr
yi
n
g
di
stan
c
es
If a load has to be carried more than about 10 metres, the effort involved in carrying the load is likely to
predominate over that of lifting it and will often be the limiting factor in deciding whether the load
should
reasonably be handled manually. Use of transport aids such as trolleys or barrows
should
be considered
whenever available. Ideally, the height of the trolley
should
be the same as that of any work surfaces from
which the load is moved. Also, consider dragging items using the tugger winch or capstan if practical.
4
.1.11 Stren
u
o
u
s
p
u
s
h
i
n
g
or
p
u
ll
i
n
g
Pushing or pulling can place the handler at risk of injury particularly if it is carried out with the hands below
knuckle height, above shoulder height or if the action is jerky. The condition of the deck and the type of
footwear worn by the handler
should
also be considered, as the risk of slipping can be significant. Decks that
are wet, greasy or which have a loose or uneven surface increase the risks.
To get a load moving when pushing or pulling it, a reasonable force to apply is up to 25kg. After it is moving,
a force of up to 10kg is reasonable to keep it in motion. These are not maximum limits but are likely to enable
the majority of people to carry out the task with minimal risk of injury. The forces involved in pushing and
pulling can be measured with a spring balance if necessary.
4
.1.1
2 U
n
p
re
dic
ta
b
le
m
o
v
e
m
ent of loa
d
s
If there is a risk of a load suddenly becoming free (such as when pulling an object that is stuck to release it)
or moving unpredictably during handling, the handler is at greater risk of injury. This risk is increased if the
handler's posture is unsuitable.
4
.1.1
3 R
e
p
et
i
t
iv
e
h
an
d
l
i
n
g
Frequent or prolonged physical effort can give rise to injury even, where the load itself is not particularly
heavy. Often, repetitive movements are combined with twisting or stooping which increases the risk still
further. Work that involves these factors
should
be examined very carefully for ways in which the risks can be
reduced.
4
.1.1
4
Ins
u
ff
ici
ent rest or re
c
o
v
er
y
p
er
i
o
d
This factor is particularly relevant when repetitive lifting is carried out. The development of physical and
mental fatigue reduces the individual capabilities of a handler over time, and consequently increases the risk
of injury. Regular short halts in the work are a better means of avoiding fatigue than infrequent longer breaks
and, where possible, a flexible approach to timing of work breaks
should
be adopted. Provided the tasks
involved are sufficiently different in character, job rotation can also be effective in avoiding the onset of
fatigue as a result of prolonged use of a particular group of muscles.
4
.1.1
5 T
ea
m h
an
d
l
i
n
g
Where an object is too large or heavy to be handled by one person, safe handling may perhaps be
accomplished by two or more people working together. This, in itself, introduces problems, and it is essential
that the task is discussed between the team members before attempting the operation. The way that the
weight borne by individual team member may vary during the task
should
also be considered (e.g. when
negotiating steps or stairways). It is important that the operation is effectively co-ordinated so that team
Version 04. Original date: 25/05/2012. Version date: 31/12/2014. Valid version only on QMS site. Uncontrolled when printed.
Procedure prepared by: BOS Deputy QHSE Manager. Approved by: BOS QHSES Manager. Validated by: BOS Quality Representative
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